The Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University won their first CIAA slow-pitch softball championship, thanks to the timely hitting of senior All-CIAA and All-NAIA athlete Dianthia Morris from Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Under the guidance of first-year coach George Williams, the Lady Broncos secured the title by winning two out of three games against Norfolk State.
Morris, an exceptional student-athlete during her four years at FSU, also shone in basketball, earning nearly every conference honor available throughout her time at the university.
In the opening game against Norfolk State, the Lady Broncos triumphed 4-3, with Morris being named the tournament’s “Most Valuable Player” and earning a spot on the All-CIAA softball team after going 2-for-3 at bat.
However, in the second game, the Lady Spartans of Norfolk State scored three runs in the first three innings and claimed a 4-1 victory.
Remarkably, the Lady Broncos rebounded in the final game after falling behind 5-0 in the first inning. FSU rallied with three runs in the third inning and added four more runs over the last three innings. Morris excelled with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate, helping Coach George Williams’ squad edge out the Lady Spartans for the CIAA softball championship, winning 7-6.
The Lady Broncos concluded their season with an impressive 18-6 record. Coach George Williams received the CIAA Coach of the Year award, while Morris was honored as both All-CIAA and All-NAIA. Other key contributors included Nellie King, Sheryl Drayton, Debbie Parks, Concetha Smith, Winifered “Winnie” Williams, Sharon Jones, Sharon Johnson, and Veronica Ransaw.
